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“We are at a point where our goal of slowing the spread of the virus has been achieved and we have been able to protect our health system... so it has been possible to discuss and agree on further easing measures,” German chancellor Angela Merkel said.

The Mediterranean state once served as Europe’s epicentre in the global pandemic and has reported more than 214,000 cases and 29,000 deaths.

Spain

Spain has reopened businesses including hairdressers and florists, and allowed its people to leave home for reasons other than essential trips.

For seven weeks, only adults were allowed to leave home, and then only to shop for food, medicine and essential goods, and walk dogs close to where they lived.

People sit on a seafront promenade during a sunset in Barcelona, Spain, enjoying their second day of outdoor exercise after lockdown restrictions were eased. (AP)

The rules were relaxed on Saturday and saw Spaniards enjoy their time outdoors by running, walking and cycling.

A field hospital built by the military in Madrid has shut, as has a mortuary set up in a shopping centre ice rink.

The government has distributed millions of face masks to try and stop the virus from spreading quickly again.

Age groups and activities are subject to allotted time slots, and social distancing measures remain in place.

The state of emergency has also been extended to 24 May, with the country recording 220,000 cases – the world’s second highest official total, behind the US – and 25,000 deaths.

Going forward, different areas of Spain are expected to loosen rules at different speeds, with provinces that could handle a resurgence of the virus moving quicker.

Austria

The first phase of Austria’s reopening has gone “excellently”, the country’s health minister has said.

The Alpine state began reopening from lockdown on 14 April, when it allowed DIY stores and garden centres to resume trading.

Shops smaller than 400 square metres have also been allowed to welcome customers again.

“We can now examine and assess the effects of April 14 and the following days very, very well and they show that we managed this first opening step excellently,” health minister Rudolf Anschober said.

Musicians play music in a park in Vienna, Austria, after the government eased up restrictions. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)

"We have no indication of a noticeable increase in individual areas.

“The situation is very, very constant, very, very stable and that is a really very, very positive, good situation.”

This week, hairdressers and shops larger than 400 square metres were allowed to reopen, with restaurants, bars, hotels and museums also set to restart business later in May.

Austria has confirmed 15,000 cases and 600 deaths.

Denmark

Day care centres have reopened and pupils aged six to 12 have gone back to school, while hairdressers and small businesses were permitted to open their doors again from 20 April.

The government has also proposed to reopen shopping centres, cafes and restaurants, and allow older pupils to go back to school.

“All parties want to open everything up, no one wants to keep parts of Denmark closed even one day more than necessary, but everyone also acknowledges that we should do the most responsible thing for health,” prime minister Mette Frederiksen said.